Can there be a Method in our madness?

In a very nice trend I admire, there seems to be more general worldwide acceptance of environmentally-better products. The poor economy and the awareness that global resources are drying up has perhaps thrust these ideas more forcefully upon us.

Besides, if we can help our planet and save a buck at the same time, why not, eh? Not that I am that cynical but I would like to share a new line of products that I have adopted made by Method Home Care and Cleaning Products. They join other already mainstreamed "green" products such as Tom's of Maine and Burt's Bees and they are packaged beautifully.

Method was created by two roommates who say on their website that they were able to create something:

"...more powerful than a bottle of sodium hypochlorite. Gentler than a thousand puppy licks. Able to detox tall homes in a single afternoon."

Finally, Cleaning products with Superpowers. This is something I can get behind.

To be honest, I was mainly attracted to the scent and the color.


Very mundane reason, I know.


But to keep buying the product for my house it does have to have some green credibility. I went to their website which is nice, accessible, and pretty. But for press, you can read a pretty good review by the Grist blog (see my "blogs to adopt" sidebar) and you can also look at the National Geographic's Green Guide, which also approves with their evo ratings many of Method's products. Another green blog, Triplepundit posted this article about the founders which shows their popularity with the Obama crowd.

My use so far is just the foamy and non-foamy handcleanser product (left) and aroma diffuser (probably not so eco-friendly, but we have these smells....see...and...uh...sigh.)

Also, sometimes I feel weary of having to use my fall-back Green brands such as Seventh Generation and Ecos. I haven't always been happy with the variety or effectiveness of what I found of those brands in stores, but I have not wanted to take the risk with a new brand. After trying the handcleanser, though, which smells green the way I like (not minty, but more herb-garden like) I will definitely try the home cleansers, such as the Ylang,Ylang, daily Shower spray cleaner.

I tend to favor lighter scented flowers such as

jasmine,

lilies of the valley

and,

orange blossoms

Perhaps I am a latent aromatherapy addict.

Anyhow, I was attracted initially to these products at my Mother-in-Law's house. She runs a spit-spot operation and has recently gone somewhat eco-friendly, when it is not at the expense of the effectiveness of a product. Perhaps, that is why she has NOT switched laundry-detergents.

Grist's review of six of the top green laundry detergents, unfortunately, backs her up on this, even though Seventh Gen does come out on top. And that company is in Vermont, the home of the dog behind the blog!

The Method website is designed as prettily as it's products, fun to click around, has amusing, informative text and pretty good FAQs. You can find out more about the founders, Adam Lowry and Eric Ryan, on their company info page. They also have a book out called Squeaky Green: The Method guide to Detoxing your Home.

Method claims they never use phthalates, parabens, ammonia, triclosan [PDF],tests on animals . It's assessed by the EPA and also a European organization that uses cradle-to-cradle methodology.

Don't forget that general cleaning jobs can often be taken care of with environmentally-low-impact, cheap everyday items like white vinegar, baking soda, borax, a sponge, and a pile of old rags. Of course, if you have to clean up with a store-bought product and you want one that's effective, smells good and has sexy packaging maybe you'll want to adopt the Method products!

dmr